A year draws to a close. An ending is in sight. These are days of increasing darkness in every way. No wonder Advent makes us long for the coming of the Light of Life Himself to signal a new beginning for all of us.
Creation itself mirrors our hope. We see death all around us as trees give up their leaves and plants die to make room for the green shoots of spring. Because renewal is built into their very DNA, just like it is in us as we surrender our darkness to God and watch how He brings His light and life to bear on what seems dead.
Although our bodies may wither and lose vigour as we age, and our health fail to the point of decay and eventual death, we always have an eternal, resurrection Hope of newness of Life with God.
We, and our loved ones will live again, my friend. We have a Hope that is steadfast and certain. We are destined for more than dust and ashes. We are destined to receive beauty for ashes.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies.To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.” ~ Isaiah 61:1-3 TLB
We are God’s Beloved children. He is with us from start to finish here on earth and eternally in heaven, overseeing our lives with loving care and attention, bringing new life from sorrow and death.
Death and life
I’m a tinder-dry autumn leaf
fallen to the ground
where oblivious feet crush me
dead with a satisfying
crisp-crunch sound
My life was brief but beautiful
in its dying glory flame
and I can still remember how
I would bend and sway
as the wind sang over me
with its sighed lullaby and
stole my breath away
on blustery nights and days
Now, while I lie as dusty ash
victim to every breeze
I yearn to return to my home
branching on the tree
Then an image comes to me
of sap rising high in spring
producing buds fresh and green
filled with new life and hope, new birth
I know I will grow and bloom again
to reveal God’s splendour
here on the earth
©joylenton
Poetry Joy 
Dear Joy,
Oh what beautiful words here:
“and I can still remember how
I would bend and sway
as the wind sang over me”
The flow of these thoughts touched me so much this morning. There is a grieving over the past and the places of dying in our lives, but OH the HOPE! Jesus will turn these ashes into a beauty of His own making. Thank you so much for sharing this today. Your words seem to always go deep, just where the Lord sees an aching in my heart. Love and Hugs to you dear friend! xoxo
You say it so well here, Bettie: “There is a grieving over the past and the places of dying in our lives, but OH the HOPE!” Oh yes, the Hope we have in Christ makes all the difference in this world and the next! Your responses never fail to go deep and open my eyes to the so much more behind what is being shared. Thank so so much for all you contribute here, dear friend! Blessings, love and hugs to you. xoxo
how beautiful and profound. thank you!
Nancie, with your keen eye for detail and beauty, I am grateful if you see something beautiful in these thoughts! Praise God for bringing a hidden depth to the words He gave me for this post. Thank you for being here. Bless you, my friend! xo 😊💜
And you as well!
“Because renewal is built into their very DNA, just like it is in us as we surrender our darkness to God and watch how He brings His light and life to bear on what seems dead.”
“[Because] we are destined for more than dust and ashes.”
“[Because] we are God’s beloved children.”
Had to respond. Glad to respond. Just because.
Dear Laurie, with your discerning poetic mind, you always succeed in getting to the heart of the matter. Your “because” lends extra emphasis and depth to my words. I’m grateful you felt inclined to pause, reflect and add a little magic of your own to those thoughts. They’ve been sprinkled in Laurie-dust and are all the finer for it! Thank you. xo 💜
A beautiful post, Joy. Another well-timed reminder of how the sap is rising even as the leaves are falling.
We hold on to that hope, don’t we, Deborah? It’s good to know our souls are evergreen, despite the changing seasons. Bless you, my friend! 😊❤
Such inspiring words, my friend. HOPE rings eternal in your words! Blessings on your weekend!
Dear June, it’s good to hear how HOPE resonates from these words! And it’s always a pleasure to see you here, my friend, as well as having the privilege of inspiring you to some extent. May your weekend be restful, full of holy Hope and blessed with heavenly peace! xo 😊💟
This was so beautiful, Joy! I always love reading your words! And I like your “snow” 😉 It reminds me that I was going to activate it again on my blog.
Blessings to you, dear sister! xoxo
Thank you, Gayl! The snow surprised me because I forgot I had scheduled it to appear automatically at a certain date. Now it feels like the countdown to Christmas has begun in earnest! Though I am already knee deep in wrapping paper as I try to get ahead a bit, while still slowing to savour the Advent season and gain some needful strength. I hope to stop by your beautiful blog as soon as possible. Blessings, love and hugs to you, dear sister/friend! xoxo
This was one of my fave posts of yours!
Thanks, Tara! I’m glad you like it. Bless you, friend. 😊❤
There is so much HOPE here, Joy. In your musings, the poem of the leaf’s story, and the song. I love them all! They all make me lift my heart to God, “overwhelmed by Thy incredible love” as in the song. Thank you so much! Love and hugs to you!
Oh thank you, Trudy! I’m delighted to have been able to offer HOPE to you here, my friend. It’s why I write and what I try to do, God willing, even when tackling tough subjects sometimes. You have given me such lovely encouragement. Blessings, love and hugs to you too! xo ❤
Reblogged this on Pastor Michael Moore's Blog and commented:
Words for the heart… Thank you, Joy ❤️
Bless you, Michael. Your own heart words speak to me each day. May you find solace in sharing, my friend. ❤